Tightening Camshaft caps

[Gavin]

Not sure what is the best thing to do

1. Use a torque wrench on the cap bolts ( I have previously had problem with stripping the treads on a z1100 so I am very wary of using a torque wrench.

2. Use a small ratchet and thread lock to tighten the bolts.

[zed1015]

Small 10mm spanner and nip them up by hand.
A dab of thread lock won't do any harm but personally I don't use it on these bolts and have never had any problems.

[Gavin]

Small 10mm spanner and nip them up by hand.
A dab of thread lock won't do any harm but personally I don't use it on these bolts and have never had any problems.

Cheers Rob

[Garn 1]

This subject comes up quite a bit, I recall one guy on this forum insisted that you should always use a torque wrench. I think the problem with these cam-cap bolts came up when there was a misprint in one of the Z1 manuals, calling for 16 ft/lbs instead of 16 in/lbs or some such numbers. Nevertheless, I agree with Zed1015, you do develop a feel with a lighter ring or tee spanner on these critical 6mm bolts.
RegardZ.

[z1bman]

inspect the bolt threads before they are tightened with a magnifying glass to make sure the thread has not stretched no need to torque them just use a small 10mm ring spanner & don't use thread lock or use brute force

[jimmock]

If the threads in the head are dodgy at all, get a helecoil into them.

[nicomkii]

And when using the 10mm spanner 'choke' the spanner don't use the end for any leverage. Hold it up closer to the bolt, you'd be surprised how much difference that makes.

[Big Fluff]

Every now and then I run a 'fluteless' tap down the holes, just to cold form any distortion back into the correct order. This also strengthens the thread in the head.

[kev edwards]

Every now and then I run a 'fluteless' tap down the holes, just to cold form any distortion back into the correct order. This also strengthens the thread in the head.

That's a bit big for the cam caps isn't it.

[KeithZ1R]

And when using the 10mm spanner 'choke' the spanner don't use the end for any leverage. Hold it up closer to the bolt, you'd be surprised how much difference that makes.

this good advice and the way i've always done it alongside the " if it feels tight " then " it probably is " premise they only need 1.1~1.3 kg m it aint a lot